Empowering Rural America Program

The Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program helps rural Americans transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. By reducing air and water pollution, New ERA funding improves health outcomes and lower energy costs for people in rural communities. New ERA program funding is available to member-owned rural electric cooperatives, which have been the backbone of America’s rural power delivery for nearly a century.

United Power was among 16 utilities announced as a finalist for the New ERA program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service in September. The cooperative was one of just two distribution cooperatives selected in the first round — along with CORE Electric, which is also located in Colorado — out of more than 150 proposals. United Power is eligible to receive up to $261 million to help offset part of the costs for seven projects the cooperative submitted for consideration in its application.